Avast Ye!

Avast Ye!

Shiver me timbers! 6 hearties joined the old salt and swashbuckler, Frehley’s Comet, for a trip on the Centurion Pirate Ship. Frehley’s assured 6 sons of biscuit eaters that he would give no quarter during today’s workout. Talk of mutiny was quickly suppressed as Frehley’s prepared the crew to batton down the hatches and move forward.

Mosey was called for and bounty promised upon completion of the mornings events. Onward, to the bilge.

COP

Bunch of exercises that Frehley’s free-wheeled

Start at the bilge and do 10x called exercise. Run up a half level. 10x called exercise. Back down and do exercises again. Did this a few times. Heavy on the Merkins.

Mary

Orlop to Poop Deck Set

Start at Orlop. Run to the dungbie. Do some exercises. Run back. Repeat this a few times with different exercises. Stairs were taken to the poop deck each time.

Mary

Start at entrance to the deck at bilge level. Run to the dungbie. Wall sits. Do this a few times. Run back to the launch.

No hornswagglers today, the 6 hearties got it done.

COT

Moleskin

Frehley’s called one of his sets the Pirate Ship. Actually, he asked what that amusement park ride that swings back and forth was called. The pax provided the answer, and, a theme for a backblast that was not going to get written. Weather was nasty at 37 with a 10mph NW wind that made it feel like 30. Enough rain to make it uncomfortable. T-claps to the men who posted this morning. Much easier to stay in the nice, warm confines of your fartsack.

If you have any interest in deciphering the Pirate talk included in this backblast, click HERE

Announcements

Please continue to pray for Jennings Palmer as he battles leukemia. He is in Nashville with Bout Time, getting treatment.

My Shoulders Hurt!

Warmorama:

50 X SSH

25 X IW

Plank X 25 sec

25 X Plank Jack  Maintain plank while listening to Centerfold tell his story of standing in line at Disney talking to a Navy dude who told him about the term of endearment for an Aviation Ordnanceman, “BB Stacker”(hint: most AO’s in the Navy work with bombs), (I did not, however). 

Upward Dog X 10 count

Downward DogX 10 count

Calf stretch X 10 Count each leg

Leg Stretch X 10 count each leg

Jimmy Doogans L, R, C

Windmill X 10

Moroccan Nightclubs X 10

Thang:

Do each Circuit until all reps completed before moving to next circuit

Reps = 25, 20, 15

Circuit 1

Curls

Block Swings

Low Slow Squats w/Block

Circuit 2

Rows

Shoulder Press

Lunge w/block 1=1

Circuit 3

Tricep Extensions

Thrusters

Staggered Merkins (these suck after Thrusters but we made it through)

Cooldown

25 X SSH

25 X IW

Plank X 25 sec

25 X Plank Jack

Upward Dog X 10 count

Downward DogX 10 count

Calf stretch X 10 Count each leg

Leg Stretch X 10 count each leg

Jimmy Doogan LCR

Set Block on end and on your 6

Done!

I have not posted at Diesel in quite a while. I normally reserve Fridays as a rest day or a makeup day for when I want to wear makeup, I want  to fartsack, I miss one of my normal posts during the week. Today was no different. Really could have used the rest but I am glad I was able to get out and get moving this morning. As far as my “typical” workout these days, this really isn’t mine and there are PAX that post here that I normally don’t get to interact with on a regular basis. Not because I’m a faster/longer runner but bc we individually choose to have different fitness goals for ourselves. Thankfully there are workouts such as Diesel where the 2nd F is incorporated into the 1st F and we can build those brotherly bonds. Got to see Brutus today which is basically the equivalent of seeing a unicorn these days. Also got to see Popeye, Turnbuckle, Centerfold and Sledge-O-Matic who I don’t normally post with on a daily basis. Oh! And Chastain was there too…

Was not expecting a large crowd and by Waxhaw standards, it really was not a large crowd, although we did have as many as the other two three Friday workouts which means a lot of the Waxhaw PAX chose the warm and hopefully dry fartsack rather than a cold and rainy asphalt jungle.

Thanks to the PAX that posted with me this morning. Always a pleasure leading any of you and most of all, will be a privilege to be led when it’s your turn at the wheel.

announcement: See Posse’s Arsenal BB from 1/7/2021. That will cover just about all you will ever need to know about F3 Waxhaw or F3 in general.

YHC took us out with a prayer

 

 

Soft Launch of Waxhaw’s Newest AO: “Last Call”

Sometimes it’s hard to believe just how much the little ‘ole Waxhaw Region continues to grow. We are just one week into January and we have already soft-launched 3 new AO’s with “Clean Slate” on Saturdays, “Cowbell” on Wednesdays, and now “Last Call” on Fridays. These are in addition to the current (3) workouts on Saturdays and Wednesday and (4) on Friday (if we include Cerberus). What’s the reason for the new Friday AO?  To meet the Demand and to Grow!

As we started creeping up to 20-30 guys every Friday at Impromptu/Swarm, the Pax decided to add another workout at Marvin Ridge HS to shift some of the numbers. Today would be the start with our fearless Site Q’s, One Star and Noonan.  Thanks to Noonan for accepting (after some coaxing) the challenge to lead his first site after being a regular for some time now.  One Star, on the other hand…he just keeps leading and encouraging the Marvin Pax.  Keep it up, brother!

6 Pax showed up for the soft-launch, which was promised to be under some cover from the expected nasty weather. Time to dust off and update the old Whiteboard of Pain, make sure the Tabata Pro app was functioning and synced to the playlist (aka avoid human error), and put in some work. Here is what we did:

The Thang:

Quick warmup from the covered picnic tables to the middle school alcove for some SSH, IW, Low Slow Squats, Plank Jacks, and Mountain Climbers. Mosey to another (somewhat) covered area for People’s Chair, Air Presses, Donkey Kicks…mosey back to the picnic tables for a Tabata-style workout.  8 exercises for :30 seconds with a :10 recovery in between each exercise. Once the 8 exercise cycle is complete, we run a distance to get in some miles. The exercises:

  1. Dips
  2. Step-ups
  3. Knee-ups
  4. Squats
  5. Dry Docks
  6. Big Boy Sit-ups
  7. Lunges
  8. Burpees

Run to a location for various exercises before returning to the benches. Rinse & Repeat 4 times, while getting in 2+ miles of running as well.  Done!

 

Moleskin:

Great work by the Pax who showed today.

Bottlecap continues to lead by example by showing up to support new AO’s, VQ’s, milestone Q’s, etc. Just some of the reasons why he is our Nantan.

Fiji has become such a consistent leader among his peers, and has made tremendous gains over the past couple of years. Lifting you and your close friends up in prayer right now, brother.

Noonan is a regular who works hard every time he posts, and is now leading a site. Thanks for stepping up, brother.

Deep Dish has transformed his health and fitness level, and has become a trusted leader among the Pax. Hard to believe you’ve only been with us a year, brother.

Smuggler is relatively new to the Pax, but seems to fit right in, enjoys the workouts and the fellowship. Keep showing up, brother, and I look forward to getting to know you more.

We missed our co-site Q, One Star, today as he is dealing with a mild case of COVID. Prayers for an easy and quick recovery, brother. We need you out there next Friday for the official Launch of Last Call.

It was a privilege to lead the first Last Call workout, but also a blessing to be out there. It was a challenging few months for YHC, as most of you know, and it made it difficult to post.  Adjusting to a growing family and a new life dynamic was not easy.  Today marked YHC’s 3rd post this week, which is both sad and encouraging at the same time.  Sad because I’m not in the shape I once was, and the expectation used to be 5-6 posts/week. Encouraging because I’m feeling better after posting more often lately and I get to be around great men, compete again, and lead.

Whether we like it or not, there comes a time when we need to re-evaluate our priorities, focus on the most important things in our lives (family), and re-create ourselves. For YHC, it meant re-establishing what F3 means to me, the types of workouts I need to get out of my comfort zone (Rucking, Kettle Bells), and what I can do as a leader in this season without leading a Region, a Site, or even a workout.  You learn to appreciate things more when you don’t have them for a while, and I know God is working on me in this season.

As Shop Dog told me, “You need to be a participant right now to focus on the family”.  No truer words have been spoken, and though it was hard to embrace this initially (“ego check”) it allowed me to take my foot off the gas and focus on leading my family, and working hard to build a legacy through the school. F3 will always be a part of my life in one way or another, and I’m excited about how I can help lead and encourage others, while also accepting the same in return.  Let’s keep working hard, growing, and challenging each other to be better men, husbands, fathers, brothers, and the leaders God created us to be. We are all here for a bigger purpose, and we need to live that out in our families and community now more than ever.

Announcements:

  • Service Opp as our SOB brother, Paper Jam, is moving into Waxhaw tomorrow. 9am load up at the apartment in Ballantyne and simultaneous 9am unload of a Pod at his new home in Millbridge (the award-winning community year after year!)
  • YHC took us out in prayer, with a special recognition of a close friend of Fiji’s who passed away recently.

“And we know that in All things God works for the good of those who love him, who are called according to his purpose” – Romans 8:28

You know you might be a redneck….

You know you might be a redneck – when you start complaining about the weather forecast a week before the “cold” weather (37 degrees) is forecasted…..

You know you might be a redneck when  you don’t even set your alarm to get up on a cold and rainy day to work out….

You know you might be a redneck when you workout under an awning so you won’t melt or ruin your makeup….

7 Pax set their alarms, took control of the circumstances (fartsacking/weather/or fear of AmRAPS) to find the joy, play like a kid, joke and support each other for the monthly Amrap at Swarm and Impromptu.

Quick DCCS and Mosey over to HS Gym to get ready for the circuit.  We were greeted by Swarmer’s who finished a lap and made a plan to start with us.

Circuit as follows:

HS – 20 Big Boi

Path – 20 Squats

Poop Palace – 20 airpress

BB court – bunny hop – up/back

benches – 20 Derkins

lap counter 2x burpees.

most got 3 to 4 laps in.

Then dasher took us back to the benches for some ab and merkin work.

Finished with an ab-webb led by Ice9 – lots of heaving from all Pax in attendance

The beauty of the smaller settings is that you can get to know a fellow pax a bit better.  For me – I was able to connect further with SugarDaddy;  Did you know that SD played college basketball?? well he did – small school in Missouri.  He’s had 2 stints in Germany – and back to Ohio for his career with America Greeting cards – now we know why SD is always so happy – he probably wrote those congrats!! cards at AG.

Kudos to Chainsaw and Akbar for ignoring the weather and the fartsack button.  Chainsaw RR has the greatest generation mentality – no complaining – show up – do you job—do what you should do – type of guy.  yea we want to shoot for the front of the pack – be faster/stronger… At 61 I want to shoot for just being able to to be in the Pax for the workouts…. speed is good…longevity wins the race

Akbar – if Covid recovery wasn’t tough enough – dude took a spill on some slippery pavement— but still chugged on.  I’m amazed at his resolve to keep working out given his responsibility to such a larger community.  Akbar is the one that changes peoples lives on a daily basis— he’s the true definition of HIM.

Hats off to Dasher for re-setting the course and developing the plan today.  I think Dasher is turning a “cold” weather corner.  2 years ago he closed it down during the winters  – and now he’s leading amraps in freezing-rainy weather.  He’s part of the OG and a founding member of  Waxhaw express-more to come on that.

Ice9 – It’s good to have someone to chase (and make fun of) that is out in front of you on the workouts – it is what each of should be looking for in the workout.  It not only acts to help propel you – but as you move faster you’re pulling someone behind you as well.  (PS – I found Ice9’s cryptonite – bunny hops….)

Gerber – Thanks for bringing the “running” theme to Waxhaw with some others  – As much as a lot of PAX may not like to run (or are any good at it) – it’s another tool that can help to accelerate your fitness level.  Added bonus of having Gerber around is the selfie photo light equipment – besides being a great guy.

So as bad as many thought the rainy-cold amprap might be – I think the 7 of us enjoyed our morning…I know I did.

So I’m thankful for the entire F3Waxhaw which as so much power- but the multiplier lies in the individual.

Tons of new workout options – see previous backblasts

Lots of service opps – see the channel

I’m headed to the new site in Indian Trail – Clean Slate tomorrow. Put some miles on your low riders adn get out that way to help  build out a new geography.

Ice9 took us out..

From 7 workouts a week to 30 a week NOW!!

And for my 61st Q, I yet again forgot I signed up but that’s ok. I’ve been sharpening my skill set for this very moment. Or in this case, I can search in my phone for the last time my boys and I Q’d Clyent Dinner in the past! Little rinse and repeat with a few changes to our dinner menu? Yup…

Pull up to a few PAX in the lot but only one other dude with a kid there but holy sheet Tupperware was there!! Welcome back dude. Lot begins to fill up with more and more cars. Maybe our menu has gone viral? Or maybe the challenge of working out with your 2.0s had an impact?

6ft DiCCS given. Let’s goooooo…..

THE THANG

Mosey towards the middle school and circle up in front. Time to warm up and stretch these frames of ours:

• 20 x SSH

• 10 x Moroccan Night Club

• 10 x Imperial Walker

• Jimmy Dugan

• Calf Stretch

• Can Opener Stretch

Partner up, sizes don’t matter. First course is Mac & Cheese with a hot lap in between. Look at the first word of each exercise, it’s spells it. Nailed it!:

• Merkins

• Abcs with feet

• Carolina Dry Docks &

• Crawl Bear

• Hurpees (Hand Release Merkins)

• E2K (Elbow to Knee)

• E2K flip flop

• Squats

• Eleven Burpees – TOGETHER!!

Mosey to Picnic Tables. Gladiator course for the kids across the picnic tables while the dads complete:

• 50 x Dips, run to Alcove, 20 x Donkey Kicks, run back to rinse and repeat.

Mosey to long sidewalk and we have arrived at Rudy’s Poo palace. Abs at every light due to too much pizza. Everyone takes a turning calling one out and counting! 10 or 20 each…Rinse & Repeat.

Time for a fire drill…. everyone circle up in the grass. High knees and take takes turns yelling “FIRE!!”. Once yelled everyone drops down and rolls to the right, does a merkin, rolls to the left, another merkin and back up for high knees. Audible due to wet grass so we did a gang of burpees instead.

Back to the sidewalk for more abs at every light en route to to COT. We covered about every ab exercise that exists. Complete. That’s time…

MOLESKIN

First and foremost welcome back Catnip! Great to see you with your 3 daughters that did great today. Welcome Sour Patch, Enchilada and Pepperoni to our group. Honestly that’s what it’s all about. Having some fun with dad while actually getting a good workout in. Some dads are out there just to have fun, some are out to get their kids uncomfortable and some are there for both. Regardless of the reason our kids are getting better posting alongside us!

I mentioned in my social post about the “connective tissue” that keeps us coming back and for most of us it’s adding in the 2nd and 3rd F. Due to this Covid world that’s a bit more difficult these days but night’s like tonight fill my cup beyond almost anything else. 31 pax is just a blessing to be a part of with that many kiddos. I’m more thankful for this F3 group than I’m able to show but it’s what keeps me so active in everything I do with our group.

When you first get to F3 you are so in your head trying to feel out what the group is about and trying to grasp just how out of shape you have gotten. That was me at least in the beginning but you slowly begin to wonder “who is making all this happen?”. Like how/why are people volunteering to lead? Then you are eventually asked to knockout your VQ and with butterflies in your gut you realize the high expectations that come with taking on that role for 45-60mins. I don’t get the nerves like a use to but I still put the same amount of time in an attempt at “fun” as I did in the beginning.

I’m 2.5 years in and still looking for ways to contribute because the impact this brotherhood has had on my life is immeasurable. When I first started I think we had maybe just 1 workout a day Monday – Saturday, except Thursdays with Floater and Pursuit. Now we have 3 x Mondays, 4 x Tuesdays, 4 x Wednesdays, 4 x Thursdays, 4 x Fridays, 4 x Saturdays and 1 x Sunday. Now add in MASH 6 x days a week. That’s freaking 30 workouts vs 7 when I started. Just amazing.

While sometimes a board member might see a day to add a workout it’s usually just a pax stepping up to lead. They don’t ask for permission per se but will run the idea by a few pax to get buy in. Then it just happens. It’s that simple. Do you have any ideas for F3 Waxhaw? Doesn’t have to be workout related. How will leave your impact? Create a lasting legacy? How will you help others around you that need it?

Cheers brothers and kids! Thanks for allowing me to lead and thank you to Chastain for taking us out.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

See BBs from today for more info.

The Few. The Mighty. The Class of 90.

8 Pax (or 16% of my graduating class [or 100% of the honor grads]) came out to see what a full 13-year alum of the finest institution in northern Lancaster County could produce on his home turf. While 2nd grade was the toughest 3 years of my matriculation, I was eager to show what I had learned.

The first test was literacy. I put out the word on all channels last night that a headlamp would be required this morning. Everyone passed except Atlas. Playing the loophole that he HAD one, but it wasn’t charged, left me dim. I had a spare for my fellow Sandlapper-educated student.

More questions from my DiCCS:
Who has a cell phone? Fredo answers “In my car.” Sorry, I was looking for “On my body.” That’s OK, here’s your consolation prize.
Who has both the knowledge & desire to save another man’s life using CPR? Now Fredo comes roaring back with that hand flying high!

No question from the Pax as to why one leg of my gray sweatpants had tons of brown stains. I don’t know how to interpret that. Male Pattern Blindness? Don’t ask questions you don’t really want to know the answer to? Y’all have been around Paper Jam, Rudy, & Transporter too much?

The Warmup
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The Thang
Run to the end of the parking lot to get a head of steam to start jumping over the walls up front. I can’t tell if Atlas is happy or not as he reminisces that he would do this with Pebbles back in the day. Further back in my day, we would call this Elementary School “woods”, because it didn’t exist.
This would be the only time Fuse comes in last for the morning. Front of the class for the rest of the time.

Mosey around the corner to the bus lot. Proving that Warriors have an extra appendage somewhere, we see numbers posted 1 – 12. That tells us how many Mike Tysons to do, run to the end & back. Then move to the next number.

Cross the bus lot safely as a group & mosey to the edge of the abyss. Quick callout that we are about to go down a series of steep hills in the dark. We’re heading to the practice field (or as I used to call it, the VIP section of the stadium gravel parking).
There are 8 tires of various sizes lined up along one side of the field. Most have little to no muddy water in them because I have flipped as much of it as will come out; hence the stains on my pants.
Flip it 5 times, then run to the end of the field & back. Repeat until you & tire are on the other side. Pick a lighter, smaller tire & you can flip easier, but you’ll have more runs; a heavier tire is harder, but you run less. Kirby is in his element here. Talks about how he & his coworkers do this for fun. Periscope had unique form on his flip – reach inside the tire & pull. Soft Pretzel excelling on this as well. Roll it back to where you found it when finished.

Mosey to the fully opened gate leading into the stadium; in my day we called it the stadium, too. #Timeless
We ran the bleachers with Gas Pumpers at the top. Take that Weddington! #ABetterWarrior
We passed by the concession stand where I rarely got anything for fear of messing up my uni.
The far left section is where the coolest of the cool sat – the band!

Head on down to the track. Yep, pitch black with no cameras & no fence to hop. Good thing Damascus doesn’t read BB’s anymore.
4 corners with Rosalita, Heels to Heaven, Dolly’s & Flutters.
Lot of memories here: homecoming court riding down in convertibles while the band has to play “Think of Laura” on a loop for 20 minutes; trying to pole vault in the end zone while not clearing a single height so Santini & I end up just wrasslin’ on the mats; running loops on crushed sand (at the time) trying to process my Mom’s terminal cancer diagnosis & death.

Back up the bleachers to get to the (now) HS parking lot. Pick a partner of opposite ability. I’ve had my eye on SP for quite a while now.
Start at one end of the parking lot. P1 runs to the other end & back. P2 does 1 burpee in the parking space, then bear crawls to the next space for another burpee. Repeat until P1 returns. Good times. SP always made sure to get 1 more burpee in before we swapped. #HIM #MABA

Head back along the back road (that didn’t exist) behind the middle school (that was my high school). Under the overhang we paused for a Mountain Climber Medley:
10 MC
10 Dying Cockroach
10 MC
10 Box Cutters
10 MC

Back on the road again. Pause once more for Plank Jacks. Were it not for Fuse calling for Pax to get out of the road because a car was coming, most of us would likely be dead (or injured [or relieved to catch a quick breather]). #No10Counts

Since the car killed our vibe without killing us, I decided to just mosey on to COT.

Still 2 minutes left? Perfect…
“Y’all ever hear of an exercise named ‘The Motivator’?”
Slack-jawed stares (like me watching the Clemson – Ohio State game last week) 🐯
“Learned it doing a virtual workout with either Princeton or Omaha. It seems to be popular in those parts.”
I know I take too long to describe something new, so I just gave the basic descriptions & said to follow along. This is the only exercise I’ve seen that’s not done in cadence or civilian count, but in UNISON. You wouldn’t know it from this bunch, though. Pretty easy to see who graduated valedictorian in his class today.
Das Boot & I have made a vow not to describe The Motivator in print, but to just have it in our weinkie (he got my hint to use the virtual workouts as extra counts for his Passport win [you didn’t think it was odd that he had more posts than we have AO’s?]). I think it went over well because I saw a couple Pax tap out; not out of boredom but because their calves seized up.

When it was over (to the second), Kirbs called me Jane Fonda. Again, don’t know how to take that.

Moleskine

My wish for you is to have an opportunity to share something precious to you with those you love.

Announcements

  • Waxhaw blood drive: https://teamup.com/event/show/id/yXfKGGqXNMRyeebH1oebB1n8NcJn4j
    SOB will have their blood drive the following month
  • New AO: Clean Slate in Porter Ridge 630-730. This Saturday has Arsenal Site Q & IL’er (even though he lives in Waxhaw) Passport on Q. Yes, he will be driving close to an hour to Q at an AO because he knows the importance of #GiveItAway. It takes a special man to love brothers he doesn’t even know to give what’s been given to him. If you have read this far, #BeLikePeriscope and let Catfish or me know which Saturday you want to have the final say in naming some FNG’s.
  • New AO: Last Call at Marvin Ridge Fridays ⚠600-645. First Q goes to Goodfella.
  • New AO: Cowbell at PetSmart in Wesley Chapel Wednesdays 530-615. First Q was Ice9 🤮
  • SATURDAY 1/9/2021 at 9am: Paper Jam could use help moving stuff out of his Dad’s apartment in Blakeney (10211 MAHONIA ST UNIT 103 CHARLOTTE, NC 28277) to their new home at 4058 HENSHAW Rd in Waxhaw (Millbridge). Also could use help moving things out of the PODS into the Waxhaw home.
    The fun will begin at 9 am at both sites. Any help would be greatly appreciated, even if you can only lend a hand for an hour or so. Last time it took less than 2 hours.
  • Mayhem is putting together a service opportunity for some disaster relief in eastern NC at the end of this month. It’s a great opportunity to help others and it doesn’t cost much. Check out the link for more details: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JTvh4Z-eD5fHmub2AwY9FuBX0QbWZNTBageXqQBCDl4/edit?usp=sharing
  • Feed the homeless in uptown Charlotte…they have now added dates through May 5th. Here is the sign-up link. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0d48afa72dabf85-rice
  • Christ Closet folding party: https://teamup.com/event/show/id/7UaL4nWTFVJeGW1GNW3CqCByYQqzUw
    Even though it isn’t mentioned, I *think* this will also be the time that several F3 brothers will be loading up the trailer with CC clothes to head down to Cape Fear for the original 10 year for a giveaway in Wilmington…
  • Habits > Public Goals > Private Resolutions – Be vulnerable & transparent in what you want to accomplish this year. Just like we mock most guys for trying to hit the gym for the first 3 weeks in January & never go again, you fall into the same trap when you make a private resolution. You increase your chances for success by telling others what your goals are for the year. Chances increase further when you put them on this spreadsheet for your brothers to read: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/14kBctLBRG1Ii4SPnLHR4dCs8Zoyn9V–6LTfOhoocT0/edit?usp=sharing
    It covers all the popular topics: Word of the Year, 1st, 2nd, & 3rd F, Concentrica, & Other. Hyperlinks for column headers to explain unfamiliar terms. At the beginning of each month, this sheet gets publicized again to show your progress.
    I didn’t get everything accomplished that I wanted last year, but I got way more than I ever did in years past when I just did it alone. I’ve read “The Power of Habit” & “Atomic Habits”, so I feel even more confident about breaking these goals down into components that have to be done on a daily or weekly basis to hit that accomplishment. I’m already seeing a couple of Pax with similar or exact goals; what are their chances of success if they team up?
  • Big thanks to Brexit who’s eager(?) to help Waxhaw get its website (f3waxhaw.com) up & runnin’ with all the fixins!
  • Kirby gave a great reminder about joining the Slack #networking channel to help yourself or other brothers in finding a (better) job. Many companies decided to wait until now to start laying people off. It’s going to be bad for a while longer. Be proactive in helping.
    Get on LinkedIn.
    Join the F3 LI group.
    Connect with other F3 men on LinkedIn to digitize your network.
    Kirby said some nice things about me, but we shan’t repeat them here. But thanks, brother!

WaxStravaganza – The Waxhaw World Tour – February 6, 2021

Updated 1-22-2021

For those wanting to join at different kpoints along the rout, Here are your most ideal options in order of convenience:

  1. Park near the Waxhaw United Methodist Church in Downtown Waxhaw and do a warm-up mosey to 701 Main. Be at 701 Main by 9:55 so you do not miss the party. Total time will be ~1:00:00 to the end and we will end where you parked. Running distance from the start of this option is ~2.3 miles (includes lone mosey to 701 Main from near the church) and bootcamp will be ~30 minutes.
  2. Park at Millbridge Clubhouse and join the Trail Run portion. Be there by 8:15 and join the Gazelles as they make their turn back to the trail from there. After Commitment bootcamp we will be moseying back toward the clubhouse and you can jump in your car from there or continue on the rest of the course. Total time will be ~1:15:00 to the end of Commitment bootcamp or ~2:45:00 if you stay to the end in downtown. Running distance will be ~ 3.5 miles if you drop off after Commitment or ~ 7.1 miles if staying to the end. 
  3. Look at this link to the schedule or further below in this pre-blast and look at this link to the map to figure out the best option for you. All points on the course are identified by the flags.
  4. You are encouraged to do the entire course so you don’t miss out on all of the fun!

Disclaimer: This is not an official event and is not sanctioned by F3 or FiA. There will be no road closures, medical professionals, safety personnel or public safety officials. Event organizers will not be held liable for any accidents, injuries, illnesses, deaths or medical emergencies experienced during or after Waxtravaganza. Your participation in this event is at your own risk.

When a PreBlast leads off with a disclaimer you know you have something exceptionally #CSAUP on your hands.

What: The F3 10 year anniversary has been postponed indefinitely due to COVID 19. With everyone bumbed about this fact Tuck and YHC have come up with a “little” #CSAUP of our own to unofficially celebrate those 10 years. We will be launching at 7:30 AM (7:00 AM for Ruckers) on Saturday, February 6th. This will be a really loooong bootcamp conceptually and a visit to a small subset of the many AO’s in the Waxhaw region. A lot of running (~11 Miles) broken up into several segments with ~10-15 minute bootcamps at each AO (and a couple of prospective new AO’s) that are along the route. Tuck and his Garmin App prowess has developed a course that will take us meandering through the heart of Waxhaw, through the mean streets of Millbridge and onto the Carolina Thread Trail. Due to the course length there will be many that would shy away from this idiocy but have no fear because we have a solution for you. There will be several jumping on/off points along the route where you can enter and exit the “fun” at your leisure, however, the fun really starts after the course is completed as that is when the 2nd F happens. When we complete the course there just happens to be a tap room (Waxhaw Taphouse) where you can enjoy a tasty beverage (or 3) of your choice to celebrate the completion of this stupidity (and the end of Dryuary for some). The Waxhaw Taphouse has graciously agreed to open an hour earlier than their normal time to accommodate our event so let’s make it more than worth their while!

Why? For the love of doing stupid & fun things that may or may not grab positive attention for F3 Waxhaw.

Who? Open to members of F3, FiA, family and friends. Please do not advertise/share on social media of any type. (Not very 2.0 friendly so probably should leave the kiddos at home for this one)

When? Saturday, February 6th at 7:30 AM.  This event will go Rain or Shine/Heat or Cold. (Adjustments to the Thread Trail route will be made if it rains for safety)

Where? We will launch and end at THE Floater/Waxhaw United Methodist Church, however, you may enter and exit at any point along the route.

How? With all your heart and “sole” (See what I did there?)

PreBlast: WaxStravaganza – The Waxhaw World Tour

Welcome to the long-awaited Waxhaw World Tour 2021 PreBlast. Before we get into it, a little housekeeping…

Course:

  • Course Map The course map has the jump in/out points flagged for your convenience.
  • This is NOT a race against other PAX for time. (This is You vs. You).
  • There will be a time-keeper/s for logistics and to keep us on schedule but there will not be any awards for performance.
  • We will pick up the SIX/MARY and stay together for the duration of the event. (No man left behind).
  • The course will be ~11 miles with segments of between 0.8 & 1.9 miles with one exception of a 2.8 mile segment from Commitment back to 701 Main.
  • The course will not be marked so we encourage all participants to study the course thoroughly to be familiar with the route.
  • The course ranges from hilly to flat and will include some trail running(~3.0 miles) with the remainder of the surfaces being streets and sidewalks/paved walking paths.
  • Please note that there will be no road closures or safety personnel. There are sidewalks available throughout most of the course and it is recommended that you use them as long as social distancing and your safety can be maintained. It is also highly recommended that you wear safety gear such as reflective clothing and a blinking light but it will be daylight for the duration of the event so anything but camouflage should be ok.
  • Trail shoes are recommended for the Trail portion but not required. The paved surfaces we will be on for most of the course will wear down the soles of trail shoes so use your discretion.
  • There are two crossings of Waxhaw-Marvin Rd. at Grace Presbyterian Church and the Millbridge entrance/exit.  We will also cross over Hwy 75 at two points. One at 701 Main and the second at the Rail bridge. Try to cross together in large groups. (No playing FROGGER)

Aid Stations:

  • There will NOT be any official Aid Stations however,
  • There will be water and light snacks available at the Commitment AO for fuel but supplies will be limited.
  • At each Participant’s own risk, you may drop off your own fuel and hydration and have it waiting for you at each AO. (See Map for flagged AO’s and below schedule for times)

Schedule of Events:

Location Start Time End Time Duration Distance Activity Comments
Waxhaw UMC/THE Floater 200 McDonald St, Waxhaw, NC 28173 7:00 7:30 :30 0.0 Arrival & Fellowship/Rucking Launch Park in Gravel Lot across from Church or anywhere downtown you can find a spot along the street.
Waxhaw UMC/Floater 7:30 7:33 :03 0.0 DiCCS Disclaimer, CPR?, Cellphone?, Safety
Waxhaw-Marvin Rd. 7:33 7:45 :12 1.2 Warm-up Mosey
Grace Presbyterian Church/Prickle & Goo(new) 5017 Waxhaw-Marvin Rd, Waxhaw, NC 28173 7:45 7:55 :10 0.0 Stretching and Flexibility Led by Paper Jam
Transition via Pursuit to MB Pool 7:55 8:15 :20 1.9 Mosey
MB Pool 1401 Millbridge Pkwy, Waxhaw, NC 28173 8:15 8:20 :05 0.0 Pick-Up the Six/Mary Park at Millbridge Pool/Clubhouse and join the fun from there
Morning Woods Part I (Out) 8:20 8:35 :15 1.5 Trail Run If it rains less than two days before event, run through MB/WC to Blackhawk
Blackhawk Bootcamp 1026 Crawford Dr, Lancaster, SC 29720 8:35 8:50 :15 0.0 Bootcamp Park at Walnut Creek Pool/Clubhouse and join the fun from there
Morning Woods Part II (In) 8:50 9:07 :17 1.7 Trail Run If it rains less than two days before event, run through WC/MB to Commitment
Commitment/H.C. Nesbit Park 1304 H C Nesbit Park Rd, Waxhaw, NC 28173 9:07 9:25 :18 0.0 Bootcamp/Fuel & Hydrate Park at H. C. Nesbit Park Restroom/Equipment Bldg and join the fun from there
Transition to 701 Main Parking Lot 9:25 9:55 :30 2.8 Long Mosey
701 Main 9:55 10:00 :05 0.0 Pick-Up the Six/Mary
THE Floater/701 Main 701 W South Main St, Waxhaw, NC 28173 10:00 10:15 :15 0.0 Bootcamp Park at 701 Main and join the fun from there(Really?)
Transition to Waxhaw Elem. 10:15 10:25 :10 0.8 Mosey
Waxhaw Elementary/The Lycan(new) AO 1101 Old Providence Rd, Waxhaw, NC 28173 10:25 10:40 :15 0.0 Bootcamp Park at Waxhaw Elementary(You’ve gotta be kidding me?)
Return to Finish @ Floater 200 McDonald St, Waxhaw, NC 28173 10:40 10:50 :10 0.9 Mosey
COT 10:50 11:00 :10 0.0 Countorama/Namorama/Closing/Prayer
2nd F @ Waxhaw Taphouse 110 McDonald St, Waxhaw, NC 28173 11:00 Until… Unlimited 0.0 Fellowship Get a ride home if you’ve had to much…

Misc:

  • Times are approximate: If you intend to join the fun at one of the AO’s along the course then please arrive 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start in the table above. If the group isn’t there when you arrive and after you’ve waited 15 minutes then we have probably moved on to the next segment or JUST WAIT LONGER!!! because we haven’t arrived yet.
  • Bootcamps will be led by one or both of that AO’s QIC or their designee and will be 15 minutes in duration except for Prickle & Goo which will be 10 minutes of warmorama.
  • Ruckers: Launch for Ruckers will be 7:00. Follow the route and Ruckers will likely finish around the same time as the bootcampers.
  • Shovel Flags: Bringem’ if you gottem! We can pass them along to the PAX so each can share the load as we transition to each AO but you are ultimately responsible for your flag.
  • Parking: ***DO NOT PARK IN WAXHAW UMC PARKING LOT*** For downtown participants, please park in the gravel lot accross from Waxhaw UMC or an adjacent space along Church St., McDonald St. or Price St. For those meeting us along the route, please park in designated, marked parking spaces wherever you decide to join. If you park at a neighborhood clubhouse, please park away from buildings so residents don’t complain…
  • Bathrooms: Restrooms are along the route, however, they are sporatic and not always open so bring some TP in a ziploc bag for #2 emergencies or there are plenty of trees around for #1.
  • Registration Fee:  ZERO! ZILCH! NADA! FREE!
  • Fundraiser: We encourage you to make a donation to a cause of your choice but no funds will be collected at this event.
  • Event Shirt: There will NOT be an event shirt. Wear any shirt you like although wearing a F3/F3 Waxhaw logo shirt would be highly encouraged… (Sleeves are optional Recalc unless you have tennis arms Bottle Cap) We will take a family photo to memorialize the event.
  • Food and hydration: There will be limited waters and snacks provided at the Commitment AO but none will be provided after the race. Participants are highly encouraged to bring their own.
  • Post-Event: Items that you are encouraged to bring for after the event include a towel, blanket (body temps drop quickly after a workout in the cold), change of clothes/shoes and a collapsible chair for the Taphouse beer garden as there will be limited seating and face covering will likely be required so bring those too.
  • 2nd F: Even if you are not interested in doing the workout, join at the Taphouse for fellowship.
  • Volunteers: There will be no volunteers for this event.

This is going to be Really CSAUP but REALLY FUN TOO!

We hope you join us for all or at least a portion of the event.

 

 

 

 

Finding Keith Gordon

Quick, customary disclaimer after everyone emerged from their well-heated vehicles at 5:59:37.  19 Area51 pax launched, and Floorslapper reclaimed his LIFO status, joining the pax 4 minutes into the workout….and order was restored to the world.

As expected, it was an especially mumblechatterish pax.  This is Hydra, after all.  Thankfully, 2 or 3 pax actually cadence-counted otherwise I would have lost count for sure in COP.

Below is some Thang and more Moleskinny.

During COP, I called Dancing Chilcutt’s (named after former Tarheel hoopster Pete Chilcutt), but those should be done in elbow plank, not regular plank #cobains.  Why?  Because the only thing you ever saw with Chilcutt was his flying elbows in the lane.  Spackler was the only one actually doing Dancing Chilcutt’s but that’s because he was mindlessly modifying.

We did some other stuff in COP – IW’s of course, No SSH’s obviously.  Called out some true bootcamp exercises like bear crawls, burpee broad jumps & Wallthar N’Djayie’s.  Relatively sure Trifusenik did none of the aforementioned exercises.

Good to meet Broken Arrow this morning.  That’s Proehl’s dad, by the way.

Brandi was wearing shorts and a t-shirt.  27 degrees.  Because why not?

Also good to make Bubble Wrap’s acquaintance among the pax.  During the rock/running partner work – I had to tell Clover that his partner’s name was Bubble Wrap….too which he said, “I think his name is Matt.”  He may have been right?

The OP posse ran in (Huddle House, Sweater Set, Brandi & Slingshot).

Marge also ran in.  2.15 miles he says, and also ran out at 0630.  0530 launch might work better for you, chief.

Snuka was WD by about 15 years….ok only 10 or 11. #ageless

Mayday – KOTTERS!  Come back again soon, and I don’t mean in March.

Geraldo & Puddin’ were going great guns on the obscure movie trivia (Google Keith Gordon – he’s the same age as Snuka).  They even extended the conversation after the workout.  I’m fascinated by their knowledge of all things trivial in pop culture, music & movies.  I suggested they start a podcast – “F3LittleKnownFacts”…coming soon.

Buc-ee’s, Motorboat & Gloss clowncarred, I think…Gloss may have ridden home in the bed of Motorboat’s truck after the soiling that took place in the Methodist church parking lot.

Deep Dish, who will be napping this afternoon, was unusually quiet due to lack of sleep, but still posted!  Let that be a lesson to all you fartsacker’s….none of whom will read this, actually.

Thanks to Puddin’ for taking us out in prayer.  Please remember to keep asking God to heal Jennings Palmer.  I dusted off the orange wristband this week.  #allinforjennings

The Bible verse Bout Time included on those is Exodus 14:14.  Quick lesson here:  The scene is the Israelites running from the Pharaoh of Egypt and his army.  The people were understandably terrified.  They had just been told they were free after 400+ years in slavery/captivity.  Well…Pharaoh changed his mind.  But God didn’t.  They were at the coast of the Red Sea.  Exodus 14:14 reads: “The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”  These were Moses’ words to the Israelites in the face of a seemingly impossible and catastrophic situation.  Guess what?  Moses was right.  Many of you know what happened next.

Will you men join me in claiming that promise for Jennings & the Palmer’s?  “The LORD will fight for you, Jennings.”

Grateful for all you knuckleheads.

 

Success!!!!….or did he fake it???

Ever since I started F3, Ice9 has always encouraged me and pushed me to get better. I really have appreciated it. The guy is a workout beast and pushes himself every day. So, when Ice shows up to your post, the goal of the Q is to make it challenging enough for him  to dry heave.  Today, as we were on our final stretch going up KJH, Ice was crushing it as usual and I hear the MAGICAL ” dry heaving”–SUCCESS!!! SUCCESS!!!!! Yes… Goal Achieved…. But after a few minutes my mind started playing tricks on me…., I started thinking–He is such a nice guy…was he faking it …was he faking it so I would feel good about my Q????    Ahhhhh, this is a question we may never know?????????

 

WARM-UP: 

DICCS given and its time to Mosey as it was chilly….completed full loop back to starting point parking lot for some SSH, IW, Moroccan Night Clubs, Arm Windmills, Calf Stretch, Runners Stretch, Jimmy Dugans, Upward and Downward Dog….we are ready!

THE THANG:

Mosey to beautiful downtown Waxhaw and keep running until we hit The Baptist Church Parking Lot for a little Bear Crawling….getting warm now.

Now, complete 15 Merkins in the Baptist Church Parking Lot then run over to the Lutheran Church Parking Lot for 15 Bobby Hurley’s …Rinse and repeat for 3 reps. Great job pushing it here fellas!

Time to Mosey to the new Swimming Pool Parking Lot for an Abs/Core Four Corners….Start in the middle island with 2 Burpees then run to a corner and complete the ab exercise (20) then back to the middle for 2 burpees –rinse and repeat.

At each of the 4 Corners complete 20 ab exercises-1st Corner: Flutters, 2nd Corner Big Bois,  3rd Corner American Hammers, 4th Corner: LBC’s

Now we are ready to finish this bad boy up…what is a Waxhaw workout without the Monster Hill (KJH)….. Mosey over to that Unforgiving Bad Boy (KJH). We will run up the hill stopping at the  4 light poles  Stop at the first light pole complete 3 Burpees and then return to the bottom for 10 T-Merkins . Then go to the second light pole and return to the bottom for 10 T-merkins -rinse and repeat until 4 light poles are completed.

Now its time for everyone to push it back to COT….go at your own speed and discretion This hill is rough.

What is that I hear??????  I  hear dry heaving!!!!     YES!

MOLESKIN

I was so impressed the way each man was putting in maximum effort today…Thank-You

Shout-out to the  guys that were coming off injuries or nursing injuries—you were pushing the best you could and crushing it….Great job.

17 for Floater with 2 for Mash

It was my pleasure leading this great group of guys today….

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

New Bootcamp workout starts tomorrow:

Name of AO: LAST CALL

AO Location:  Marvin Ridge High School

Goodfella will be on Q for a 6 am start time.

 

Reminder 9am Saturday: Paper Jam needs help moving items from Blakeney to Waxhaw .Details are on F3 service opportunities or reach out if you can help.

 

Zinfandel mentioned tracking your goals for 2020 on the F3 spreadsheet—for example one of his was to take his boys to the evening workouts…I have witnessed him doing this…..this tool is a great accountability source.

One of mine is to encourage/compliment my kids and wife on a daily basis. Since I was Q today, I encouraged all PAX to do so today within an hour of getting home as YHC took us out…(love the response Trojan received!)

Have a great day fellas!

 

 

 

 

 

His Mother was a Mudder.

It was a a brisk (35-degrees) launch at 5:30am and Meat Smoker showed up in shorts & a T-shirt. (Pittsburg Strong!) Chippy worked out with no gloves. (Weddington Strong!)

The Thang – 

We took off for a quick warm-up run and exercises; SSH x25, Mountain Climbers x20, Merkins x10, Imperial Walkers x15 & Jimmy Dugans x15. We also worked in some crowd pleasers; Calf & hamstring/hip stretches. With muscles-warm and hands-cold we headed for the schools access road.

  • Run to 1 of 4 street lights and return to start line. At each light do alternating Squats x 20 & Bobby Hurley’s x 20 and back at the start Burpees x 5. (Plank at 4th light, wait on the six.)
  • From 4th light, lunge walk to [approximately] to the 5th light and then backwards run to 6th light. (Plank and wait on six)
  • Bear crawl to the 7th light. (Plank and wait on six) As a breather; Moroccan Night Clubs x 60
  • Backwards run back to the 4th Light, then [regular] run back to the start for Burpees x 5.

A quick mosey to the back parking lot for some modified Hill-work of 11’s. Merkins @ the bottom and Monkey Humpers @ the top. (Plank and wait on six)

Chipotle lead us in some quick Abs ; Crunch x15, LBC x15, Side Crunch-Right x15, Side Crunch-left x15, Pistol Crunch-Right x15, Pistol Crunch-left x15 & Thu’ Chippy Cross x15 (Finish in Plank)

Finished with an AYG back to COT!

Moleskin –

I appreciate Das Boot allowing me to make up my missed Q from December. This is a Great AO and he’s a solid Leader! Apologies to the PAX for the Q’s misread on the Hill-Work. It’s not rained since the weekend and the Q assumed the hill was dry. (I think McGee plugged in the Mud up to his shins.) We modified to the parking lot, but the muddy-damage was done. (My Bad!) Always great seeing Long Haul out in front grinding it out with Fiji & McGee. Smuggler and Noonan did a good job pushing the Q to stay on pace. Big thanks to Chipotle for his rapid Abs workout.

Announcements: New Bootcamp Workout begins on Friday’s (Tomorrow, Jan 8th) called “LAST CALL”. It’s at Marvin Ridge High School with a 6:00AM Launch. Goodfella is on Q. (Check your local listings for further details.)